Protect Radhamadhab Temple at Radha Kund

Recently I came across the post on fb, mentioning about the dilapidated condition of our community temple, Shri Radhamadhab Jew Temple at Radhakund, and need of its rejuvenation. In 2013 I had first time visited this temple (or you can say vrindavan) for a very short duration with my family, and my mood was not at all in good shape at that time even being at dham, so I could not observe much within the temple. Also I didn’t go even to pay obeisance to nearby radha kund, though I was seeing from distance. Now I regret that moment, that I should have used the opportunity anyhow. So in Shri Radha Madhav temple I observed bishnupriya manipuri ladies doing services- like cutting vegetables, cleaning etc. I saw in altar, beautiful two Radha Madhav deity one big and one small in our bishnupriya Manipuri traditional dress (Radha rani was in polie), they were looking so beautiful, that I was just staring appreciating their beauty and by side was deity of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Their darshan gave some solace to my bad mood, although outwardly I was maintaining as if still in bad mood. One thing I observed that some parts of temple was broken, I am not able to recall the exact picture of temple now, but overall I felt it was needed renovation, the only BM temple in vrindavan that too in prime location in radha kund.

As I mentioned before that being in that place I didn’t even visit radha kund, it was my misfortune, that I came to know now after knowing so much glories of radha kund. Let me share some of these glories which may encourage us to also care for Sri radha madhav jew temple which is located in vicinity.

Srila Rupa Goswami (one of the chief disciple of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) in his Updeshamrit tells why Radha kunda is great. It is mentioned in 9th verse of Updeshamrit “The holy place known as Mathurā is spiritually superior to Vaikuṇṭha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathurā-purī is the transcendental forest of Vṛndāvana because of Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vṛndāvana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Rādhā-kuṇḍa, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?”

Radha-kuṇḍa, at the foot of Govardhana, is superior to all because it is there that love of Kṛṣṇa overflows. In Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya-līlā) it is stated that when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first visited the area of Vraja-bhumi, He could not at first find the location of Radha-kuṇḍa. Finally He found the holy spot, and there was a small pond there. He took His bath in that small pond. Later the pond was excavated by Lord Caitanya’s devotees, headed first by the Six Gosvamis, such as Rupa and Raghunatha dasa. Presently there is a large lake known as Radha-kuṇḍa there. Who, then, would give up Radha-kuṇḍa and try to reside elsewhere? No person with transcendental intelligence would do so. The importance of Radha-kuṇḍa, however, cannot be realized by other Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas, nor can persons uninterested in the devotional service of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu understand the spiritual importance and divine nature of Radha-kuṇḍa. Thus Radha-kuṇḍa is mainly worshiped by the Gauḍiya Vaiṣṇavas, the followers of Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

In the next 11th verse it is mentioned “Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vraja-bhūmi, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is certainly the most treasured object of Kṛṣṇa’s love. And, in every respect, Her divine kuṇḍa is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Rādhā-kuṇḍa is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one’s pure love of Kṛṣṇa is fully aroused.”

So fortunate we are that we have the opportunity to be near to radha kund and those devotees who stay there and perform devotional service. If Radha Madhav temple get renovated and by contribution if it has even moderate facility for the pilgrims, the contributors get benefitted and the pilgrims get benefitted by krsna bhakti, because of its being located in the most most most supreme location within vrindavan.

Upadesamrta book (in English nectar of Instruction) one of the best literary works by Srila Rupa Goswami, giving guidance to those who wants to advance in krsna bhakti. I recommend to read this book, very small containing only 11 verses. And support Shri Radha Madhav temple, so that we as community can take advantage of being located in radha kund.